Monday, October 29, 2012

These were taken this morning about 2 hours before the mid-day high
tide. I'll try to get back up at high tide to take more photos. You can
see that the waves are already surging well over the jetty.

As of this moment, we still have power, although I've heard there
are outages around the Cape. Some gas stations sold out of gas
yesterday as people stocked up and/or left Cape Cod. Schools all over
the Cape were cancelled for today, and some of the schools (like Nauset
High School) are being used as
emergency evacuation points.

Friday, October 26, 2012

Looking out at the calm ocean this morning, it's hard to believe that a giant storm is on its way, barreling toward the East Coast as I type. The local media has nicknamed it "Frankenstorm" as it's about to screw up everyone's Halloween plans.

That's a new thing - the weather service has decided to start officially naming storms so it's easier to hash tag them. But that system hasn't gone into effect yet, so we're still getting the fun, made-up names, like last year's "Snowtober" storm. And now, Frankenstorm. Go ahead, say it. It's fun to say.

Part of me wants to ignore it because it most likely won't mean a thing to us. Last year the schools sent the kids home early one day - before lunch early - because we were supposed to get a big storm. Nothing.

This time my husband even went looking for a generator. We already discussed the pros and cons of different types of water bottles we can stock up with (two of the large poland springs box jugs sprung leaks last time we stocked up.) I need to move the outdoor furniture around so it won't hit any windows.

Really?

I guess I haven't lived through a "real" coastal storm yet. I've been lucky in my years on the Cape. The insurance company keeps telling us that when they raise the rates in preparation for The Big One. I remain skeptical of just how bad a storm could be around here. I mean, it's not Haiti. It's Cape Cod.

And then I look at my sister's experience last year in Killington, another upscale resort community. Her house made it through unscathed, but her road was washed away. As were many of her friends homes, cars and possessions. And the Woodstock Inn (where she works) took forever to recover from the flooding and the mud damage. The state of Vermont is still in the process of recovering, more than a year later.

So maybe I will move the patio furniture, and bring the pumpkins inside. And keep my fingers crossed that the storm goes out to sea instead of crashing on my shore.

Although it does have a cool name.

How about you - Do you live on the East Coast? Are you ready for Frankenstorm?

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

I've been in a funk for a few days now, and unable to think past it enough to write a new blog post. So instead I'm writing about not being able to write.

I finished the MS I was working on a few weeks back. I went through it for consistency and edits. I wrote a synopsis and a query. And I mailed it out.

Now what?

I feel a little lost, having sent my baby out into the world. It's not my first baby, but a baby nonetheless. Maybe it wasn't ready. Time will tell. In the meantime - in the NOW time - I need to get back to work on another project (or two) and I even have a good start to one... even a *gasp* outline. But. I'm having trouble wrapping my head around moving on. Any tricks? Advice? How do you move on to a new project?

SPEAKING OF MOVING ON...

I need some advice - if anyone has been through a situation like this, please help. I finally got my rights back from Moongypsy Press for my second novel. They went "out of business" almost a year ago but my book has still been up there on Amazon, etc., for sale. How do I get Amazon to take down the book, so that I can eventually re-release it on my own and actually make money on it? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Friday, October 19, 2012

You would think Puppy would tire of the game. I mean, chase one flock of seagulls and you've chased them all, right? Oh no.

Seagulls are ignorable when they are alone. The dogs barely notice and don't even pick up their pace unless the single bird is within four feet of them. But a whole flock? That's way too exciting to ignore!

Puppy has figured out that the Big Trick - the Art, if you will - to chasing seagulls is to walk away and let them settle back down again. Make them think they won. And then go back and start chasing them into the air all over again!

On the one hand, it's like busy work. You chase them away, they come back again. You chase them away again. Kind of like dusting and vacuuming. Why do it in the first place, since the dust just comes back? Think of that satisfied feeling you get when the woodwork gleams and the room smells all fresh and lemony. Yeah, it doesn't do it for me either, but it seemed like a good analogy.

Unlike dusting, however, chasing seagulls is apparently lots of fun. Just ask Puppy.

Since the weekend forecast sounds grim, I'm glad the dogs were able to have some beach time this week. Our weekend plans probably include a lot of lazing around the house, and getting the boys ready for their Homecoming dances. How about you? Exciting plans or just chasing seagulls?

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

The fabulous Ciara Knight and the inimitable Ninja Captain Alex have put together another fun blogfest for us all to enjoy - Today we're playing "Did I Notice Your Book?"

The idea is simple. Choose a book - one you've read or want to read, something you've seen on another blog, Goodreads, or someone else's website. Something that caught your eye or your attention - but you CAN'T tell author that you're featuring their book. The idea is to shout it out on social media until the author notices!

Ninja Captain Alex posted rules:

Only
two rules:

1)You
can’t post about your own book.

2)The
book shouldn’t be on the New York Times or USA
Today bestseller list.

This
is your chance to shout out about a book that might not have been noticed by
others.

So... drum roll please.... the book I'm officially "noticing" for this blogfest was officially released yesterday from Crescent Moon Press by the energetic and fabulous Lynn Rush!

There was a Facebook launch party last night that I took part in - so maybe some of you have already seen this book. But even if you missed the party, definitely DON'T miss this book! The protagonists are 20-somethings in college, and Lynn has tagged it as "New Adult" rather than YA, but it has that same fast-paced feel.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book for review in late September and posted my review on Goodreads, Amazon and HERE on my blog. This is the first book of a planned trilogy, and I'm really looking forward to reading what happens next!

Now tell me... are you playing along in this blogfest? Leave me a comment so I can follow you back to your blog and see what book you chose to notice!

Friday, October 12, 2012

I was at my computer writing. I really want to finish my current manuscript, but life keeps getting in the way. After my first four cups of coffee (!) I took a Facebook break and posted that I was going to finish writing the darn thing in the next few hours.

2,000 words later, I took another break, (and finished the pot of coffee) and found that more than a dozen people had already clicked "Like" on my post. Not only that, but a bunch more people had left comments of encouragement. People I don't normally talk to about my writing, or whom I haven't seen in years. Yes, a few of my author friends chimed in, because they know how it feels to be that close and just want to finish. But my aunt in Colorado chimed in. An old friend from Vermont who's now a fan of my books. A high school buddy I haven't seen in years.

So I couldn't slouch it off until some other time. I needed to finish it. That day. Because I said I would.

Except... then I had to pick up my son at the bus stop. And organize rides for my daughter to and from rock band rehearsal. And go to other son's away soccer game. And make dinner for everyone. And watch the vice presidential debate.

And it just wasn't finished.

If I hadn't posted my intentions on Facebook, I would've shrugged it off for another day. Probably not today, as the sun is shining and I have a long list of errands. Next week.

But no. I told people. I had to finish.

At 12:05 a.m. I typed the words "The End." I guess technically I failed, as it was already Friday by the time I finished writing. But I hadn't gone to sleep yet so, again, "technically" in my mind, that's still the same day, right?

Thank you, Facebook, for being a good anti-procrastination tool. And thank you to all the friends who clicked Like and left comments, and kept me on track to reach my goal.

It ended up being a pretty good week.

How about you? Do you ever use the power of Facebook for good? (or just for evil time-sucking purposes?) What do you think about using social media to keep your writing goals on track?

* * * * *

DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE GIVEAWAY I'M STILL RUNNING HERE ON THE BLOG - LEAVE A COMMENT ON WEDNESDAY'S GUEST POST BY CONSTANCE PHILLIPS TO WIN EITHER A PAPERBACK COPY OR EBOOK COPY OF HER DEBUT NOVEL, FAIRYPROOF

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Today I'm thrilled to have Constance Phillips as my guest. She's the author of FAIRYPROOF, which I reviewed and gushed about back in September. (Read my review from September 21st here.) I'm also giving away a paperback copy of her book, so read on and don't forget to leave a comment!

*UPDATE* In addition to the paperback, Constance will also be giving away an ebook version of FAIRYPROOF ! Another great reason to leave a comment and be entered to win this fun book!

Take it away, Constance!

Books: The Door to a New World

Katie, thank you so
much for inviting me your blog, today.

I know that reading is a very
important element of being a good writer. However, because I am a wife and
mother who has to hold down a full time job in addition to working on the
writing career, that favorite past time can get ignored for weeks on end.

The last several weeks have seen me stretched pretty thin.
I’ve been caught up in the day job, promoting the release of Fairyproof, writing a sequel to that
book, and working with my editor on Resurrecting
Harry (coming next year). Needless to say, spare minutes to read have been
few and far between.

What was surprising was that in those moments I didn’t
actually miss it. Not on a conscious level anyway. On an unconscious level,
however, my soul was screaming to be told a story. Countless times in the last
month or two I’d suggested to the husband or the kids that we go see a movie,
of course finding the moments to do that were difficult too and that movie
never happened.

Last night was just such a night.

We’d made plans to go to a movie, but after a mutually long
and frustrating day, the hubby, the daughter, and I just didn’t have the
gumption to make it to the car. Instead, I changed into my comfortable jammies,
and grabbed a blanket (It’s getting cold here in the Midwest) and my Kindle. I
scrolled through my to-be-read and while I had two started novels, I was a bit
worried about my level of exhaustion and dwindling attention span. I zeroed in
on a novella
from a fellow RWA chapter member.

A little over two hours later, I reached the warm,
satisfying ending and realized that the joy I derive from creating a whole new
world for readers to get lost in when I write a story, is the same thing the
reader side of me was missing. The story wasn’t a paranormal. It was, in fact,
our local community, but the world – the characters the author created and
their story of attraction and falling in love – was the escape from the stress
and complications of my day-to-day.

My friend’s story certainly entertained me, but it also
reminded me that books are an escape hatch into another world. It doesn’t
matter if it’s literal – as with fantasy and paranormal books – or just a world
that is not our own like in contemporary stories.

As a writer, I hope Fairyproof
serves as an enjoyable escape for those who read it. As a reader, I will make a
special effort to put reading back toward the top of my daily to-do list.

* * * * *

Thanks, Constance, for a great post - and a great reminder of why we read! Now, for a reminder of why we blog - and read other people's blogs! I have in my hands a paperback copy of FAIRYPROOF - which I bought, read and absolutely ENJOYED... and I will send it out to via snail mail to one lucky commenter!

SO, leave a comment for Constance, tell us why YOU like to read and what books have helped you escape lately. The winner will be chosen at random and announced on Saturday - Good luck!

Book blurb:

When Monique finds out her brother, Kieran, is planning her
future with the one fairy she wants nothing to do with, she seeks refuge in the
human world. Now Kieran fears she will be the next victim in a string of
murdered fairies and is determined to bring her home.

Hiding should be a breeze. She can control any human with a
flirtatious smile and an attraction spell. Until she meets Daniel Elliot, the
only human who's immune to both.

A year ago, Daniel's fiancée disappeared with the engagement
ring, an Elliot family heirloom. He's ready to move forward with his life, but
his mother's obsession with retrieving the ring makes that impossible. Then
Monique walks into his office to apply for a job.

Daniel and Monique can't deny their attraction, but will the
reason he's Fairyproof be too much to overcome?

About the Author:

Constance Phillips lives in Ohio with her husband, two
ready-to-leave-the-nest children, and four canine kids. Her perfect fantasy
vacation would involve hunting Dracula across Europe with her daughter, who
also digs that kind of stuff. When she's not writing about fairies, shifters,
vamps, and guardian angels, she's working side-by-side with her husband in
their hardwood flooring business.

Constance is actively involved in her local Romance Writers of America
chapter (MVRWA) and the Southeast Michigan chapter of the United States Pony
Club. When not writing or enjoying the outdoors, she loves reality television
or can be found at a Rick Springfield concert (just look for the pink Converse
high tops).

Monday, October 8, 2012

Long weekends are for hanging out with friends and long walks on the beach. The dogs are happy, and looking forward to more of it today. The sun is shining here at the moment, so I'll need to jump on that soon!

The kids have been out of school since Friday, and in between rain showers we've had periods of beautiful sunshine and beach walking weather. Last night we visited my parents who have friends in from California that I haven't seen since my wedding. I used to babysit for their kids eons ago - it's crazy to see the photos of the children of the children I remember taking care of....mind boggling.

More mind boggling is that tomorrow night, my publisher and friend Nicola Burnell and I will be the speakers at the monthly ABWA meeting in Hyannis. The American Business Women Association has a Cape Cod chapter - you can read about them here - and the blurb about us from their website reads:

The Cape Cod Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association is
pleased to welcome Nicola Burnell, Publisher, and Katie O’Sullivan,
Editor, of the online publication, CapeWomenOnline.com, as the guest
speakers for their next business meeting. The meeting will be held at
the NEW DoubleTree by Hilton Cape Cod (former Radisson) at 287 Iyannough
Road, Hyannis, on Tuesday, October 9th, with networking beginning at 5:30 PM followed by the dinner and business meeting at 6 PM.

Nicola and Katie will be discussing their online magazine, and how it
has grown over the last 5 years of publication, thanks to the regular
submissions from local writers, artists and business women. It is truly a
community effort that receives an amazing amount of support from women
who love to read the stories they publish. Nicola and Katie will also be
discussing their ever-expanding vision, and their recent initiative to
bring the women their readers love to read about right into community
events, where their readers can meet and network with them directly.

The ABWA Member Spotlight for October will be Dr. Diane Todd, of Nauset Optical.
To register for the October 9th ABWA business meeting, please reserve your space online here OR send an email to reserve@abwacapecod.org. Dinner costs $22 for members by the reservation date, $27 for members after reservation date, and $27 for guests.

Wish me luck, as I'm not really the greatest of public speakers! We (Nicola and I) attended a party Friday at the Little Beach Gallery in Hyannis, and I told everyone I'm already planning to hide behind Nickey when we're on stage. One of these days I'll get over that fear... maybe it will be tomorrow. We'll see!

The other thing I'm looking forward to - and this one I'm a lot more excited about - is on Wednesday, 10/10, I'm hosting author Constance Phillips right here on my blog! To celebrate, I'll be giving away a paperback copy of her novel FAIRYPROOF to one lucky commenter! So come back later in the week to leave a comment and win her great debut novel! I'll announce the winner on Saturday - good luck!

Friday, October 5, 2012

Today, I'm turning over my blog to an old college friend, Wendy Barry, who sat through more English literature classes with me than I care to remember. We read novels and poetry, philosophy and political treatises. After Colgate, I moved to Boston and dabbled in the advertising world, while she made better use of her English degree and went on to Vanderbuilt to obtain her Masters.

Wendy now lives down South with her wonderful husband, talented son, and uber-spoiled dogs, and teaches English for a living. She also writes fabulous poetry for fun, and I swear that one of these days I'll make it to one of her live poetry readings! Promise!

And without further ado, I'll turn over the blog to Wendy...

Over
the years, there have been a lot of books banned in a lot of places.
Before there were even papyrus rolls, there were scribes rubbing out the
good parts with hammer and chisel. Of course, what constitutes the good
parts or the scary parts or the incendiary parts changes over time and
place. When the Pharaoh Akhenaton was in charge, he made the kingdom of
Egypt a monotheistic nation. Most Egyptians did not like that, so after
his death, they got rid of all the hieroglyphics referring to
Ahkenaton’s reign and blasphemous single-god craziness.

It’s funny how what is unacceptable changes, isn’t it?

I teach English and composition at an open door institution in one of
the most educationally backwards states in the nation. Many of my
students, many more than you would like to believe, struggle with
reading. They don’t want to read, they avoid reading at all costs, and I
sometimes have them read out loud, they falter and halt over three
syllable words, like syllable, for instance.

Last year, at a
local high school, one of the books on the summer reading list was
challenged. The book in question apparently had bad words and described
some bad behavior in it. A few parents judged it as an inappropriate
choice for all students, which seems unfair.

The bad words, in
particular, are what concern me. What are these bad words, anyway? Are
they words that run amok and shoot up a movie theater? Are these words
scalding newborns? Do they light puppies on fire?

No, they
don’t, because words are not inherently bad, nor good, but tools for us all
to communicate the good, the bad, and the ugly of human experience. Sure
they are sometimes sharp tools, and people can be cut by them, but they
are our tools, the most important in an ongoing battle to retain our
humanity.

What of my students, and they are many, who not only
don’t read well, but are not allowed the words that come closest to
expressing their experience? What about the victims of child abuse,
domestic violence, dysfunctional families, poverty and lack of
education, who are not allowed to say how ****ed up that is?

There might be some things we should ban, but they are not books, and they are not words.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

I can't remember if this book was required reading in 9th or 10th grade English class, but I still have my copy. I couldn't hand it in at the end of the semester because I kept re-reading it, each time feeling as if I were closer to cracking Salinger's secrets and understanding Holden Caulfield more completely. I've since read other Salinger books, but at the time this novel was so radically different than anything I'd read previously that I needed to keep it. And I still have it.

I tried to read it again recently, and found I didn't have the time or the patience to sit down and give it the attention it needs... there are so many layers of meaning, beyond the "bad language" and "innapropriate behavior" and "sexual content" that has parents trying to ban it from their school's curriculum.

Have you read The Catcher in the Rye? Was it required reading? What did you think? Have you read it again lately?

Out of the list of the Top 100 Novels of the Twentieth Century... Many of them have been banned and/or challenged. The list below shows those challenged and banned - for the complete list of Top 100 books, go HERE.

See how many of these classics you've read - Count them up and leave it in the comments. I've only read 23 of the 46 listed. (I guess I have more reading to do - and soon!) How about you? Which are your favorites?

1.
The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald
2.
The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger
3.
The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck
4.
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
5.
The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
6.
Ulysses, by James Joyce
7.
Beloved, by Toni Morrison
8.
The Lord of the Flies, by William Golding
9.
1984, by George Orwell

11.
Lolita, by Vladmir Nabokov
12.
Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck

15.
Catch-22, by Joseph Heller
16.
Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
17.
Animal Farm, by George Orwell
18.
The Sun Also Rises, by Ernest Hemingway
19.
As I Lay Dying, by William Faulkner
20.
A Farewell to Arms, by Ernest Hemingway

23.
Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston
24.
Invisible Man, by Ralph Ellison
25.
Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison
26.
Gone with the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell
27.
Native Son, by Richard Wright
28.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, by Ken Kesey
29.
Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut
30.
For Whom the Bell Tolls, by Ernest Hemingway

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Today, my blog is being taken over by my friend, author and comedienne Nancy Howland Walker. Actually, she's currently working on a cruise somewhere off the coast of South America, where her biggest dilemma is needing a new pair of sandals 'cuz she's worn out two pairs with all the fun she's having....

...but she managed to take time out of her busy schedule to weigh in on the subject and celebrate Banned Book Week with us. Take it away, Nancy!

Banned Book Week

by Nancy Howland Walker

Banning books? I’m all for it!

No, not because I’m some rabid Christian Coalition
right-winger who wants to protect our youth from morally corrupt influences,
and not because I’m an Authoritarian nut job who sees “Muslims” and
“Socialists” in every shadow andwants
to protect our fragile American society from subversive concepts. But for the
simple and universal truth – You want what you can’t have!

If you (or anybody!)
are told that you absolutely can’t have something, chances are that you will
wish for, fantasize and dream about that thing and chase it with fevered
abandon. And if you actually DO come to possess the prized object, it will
become your “Precious.” You will lovingly examine it and jealously guard it,
clenching onto it like a dog does his favorite toy.

I was a Russian major in college, and learned all about the
cultural underground of the Soviet Union. Because the State kept a tight,
controlling grip on speech, Soviet citizens could not take books for granted.
Literature was valued highly, studied and discussed, and an intellectually
vibrant arts culture formed. (Hey! I actually retained something from
college?!)

My own experience with banned books goes like this: In sixth
grade, I became aware of Judy Blume’s best seller, FOREVER. I didn’t know
anything about this book, except that it had “sex parts” in it, and everyone’s
Mom had forbidden everyone to read it. Hence, EVERYONE was trying to find a
copy and read it! This of course meant that I also developed a burning desire
to hold the book in my hot little hands and find out what was deemed so
inappropriate for us. When I got home from school, I rushed to my mother and
told her about this controversial book and asked her if I could read it. From
what my friends said about their mothers’ reactions, I fully expected MY Mom to
fly off the handle and forbid even saying the title or looking at its
cover!But she said yes, like it was no
big deal, and that I could read it. That all-consuming, obsessive, burning
desire I had had only a moment before fizzled right there and then into
nothingness.

So as an author, I say, “Ban my book!” Please. Make a big
deal over it, telling people of all ages that they cannot and should not read
about how to create songs on the spot. That instant songwriting is morally and
culturally subversive!Indeed, that
songwriting of ANY kind will stop the universe and lead to the destruction of
all creatures great and small, and therefore my book is forbidden! Then I will
SURELY be number one in my category on Amazon!

Oh, and by the way, I have yet to read FOREVER.

* * *

In addition to being a fabulous friend and a certified ne'er-do-well who flits around the globe (and gets paid for it), Nancy is a comedienne, actress, and author of INSTANT SONGWRITING.

Instant Songwriting is the ultimate how-to book for musical improvisers
and an excellent resource for songwriters. With over two decades of
musical improv experience, Nancy Howland Walker guides you with clear,
logical and fun step-by-step exercises, from the very basics of putting a
song together, to highly advanced song techniques. Whether you are new
to the art form or experienced, your songs are improvised or written, or
you do this for fun or profit, Instant Songwriting helps you take your
song skills to the next level. Musical tracks are included for each
exercise – to accompany you as you practice and master each step along
the way. Now go and become the Songwriting Diva you were meant to be!

It's available on Amazon- and it might be banned any day now, so go buy your copy as soon as possible!

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Today I'm turning over the reigns to another fellow author, Cindy Young Turner, author of Thief of Hope. She's talking about Banned Books, and her own favorite from her childhood - THE OUTSIDERS, by S.E. Hinton.

My Favorite Banned Book, by Cindy Young-Turner

There are a number of books on the banned books like that
I’d consider favorites. One of the most memorable was The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. I think I was in middle school when I
read it and I got it from one of the Scholastic book clubs. Those things were
great. I was probably one of the only kids who ordered books like All Quiet on the Western Front and some
book about a nuclear holocaust. Nothing but light reading for me!

That’s why I loved The
Outsiders so much. It felt so real and it was so different from what I was
used to as a kid growing up in a quiet suburb of Massachusetts. The Outsiders had tough kids trying to
make it on their own, but mostly it was about loyalty and friendship and
family. It was easy to relate to Ponyboy and his struggles, and I loved his
interest in writing because I was also a young writer. It’s one of the first
books I remember making me cry, and if you’ve read the book, you know why I
did.

The
Outsiders has been banned because of its realistic portrayal of ‘60s
gang violence and family dysfunction (per Wikipedia), plus teen smoking and
drinking. These days a book like that seems tame. YA is a lot edgier now (how
many people died hideous deaths over the course of the Hunger Games trilogy?)
and authors are often pushing the boundaries. But these are problems kids deal
with on a regular basis. We all want to read books that reflect our experiences
and the world around us. Violence and gangs are still an issue, dysfunctional
families are still an issue. You can’t sugarcoat the world because kids will
see right through it.

I’m happy to say that my parents never censored my reading
when I was young. The library was a magical place where I spent a lot of time.
I remember the children’s/YA section was an entire floor. My mom would go
upstairs to the adult section and I’d have free reign of the basement floor. In
looking over the list of banned books, I’ve read quite a few of them. I hope to
instill the same love of reading and curiosity and open-mindedness in my own
daughter. And when she’s old enough, I’ll happily share my paperback copy of The Outsiders with her.

Sydney, a street urchin and pickpocket in the town of Last Hope, has
managed to evade the oppressive Guild for years, but there is no
escaping fate when she's sentenced to death for associating with the
resistance. After she's rescued by a wizard, Sydney is forced to
accept that magic-long outlawed throughout the Kingdom of Thanumor-still
exists, and the Tuatha, a powerful faery folk, are much more than
ancient myth and legend. When the wizard offers a chance to fight the
Guild and bring Willem, bastard prince and champion of the Tuatha, to
the throne, Sydney embraces the cause as a way to find her own
redemption. But Sydney's fear of the Guild, distrust of authority,
and surprising connection to the Tuatha threaten Willem's success. Can
she untangle the strange threads that entwine her life not only to the
fate of the kingdom, but also to Willem himself?

About the Author:

Cindy has always been an avid reader and became
fascinated by mythology and Arthurian legends at a young age. She quickly
decided she enjoyed creating her own worlds and characters and set to work
writing her own stories. She won her first writing contest at age twelve, a
short story inspired by the style of Edgar Allan Poe. Branching her interests
from mythology to classic supernatural tales to medieval history and then to
fantasy seemed to be a logical progression. Her fantasy novel, Thief of Hope, was published in 2011.

A native New Englander, Cindy currently lives in the
Mid-Atlantic region with her family and each year wishes for more snow. Visit
her at her website at www.cindyyoungturner.com

Monday, October 1, 2012

I guess I wasn't totally surprised to find THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins on the list of Top 10 Banned Books for last year. Even though the book was first published in 2008 (and assigned as summer reading for incoming freshmen to Harwich High School in 2010) it didn't receive the close attention of parents until the movie and the associated hype exploded last year.

I was one of the first readers to check this book out of my local library in January 2009 - and then had to wait until September for CATCHING FIRE to be released! And then wait again for MOCKINGJAY. (The agony!) It seems crazy to me that people would want to ban such engaging works of literature, books that make you think outside the box, beyond your current life.

THE HUNGER GAMES trilogy was third on the list for last year. The website quotes the reasons, abbreviated as: "Reasons: anti-ethnic; anti-family; insensitivity; offensive language; occult/satanic; violence."

The original Publisher's Weekly review compared the book to Aldous Huxley's BRAVE NEW WORLD, another favorite of book banners, but that's aimed at adults. Parents object to THE HUNGER GAMES being targeted at children.

I explained Banned Book Week to my twelve year old, and explained that some parents wanted to take THE HUNGER GAMES out of schools and local libraries. That some parents didn't feel the book was appropriate for children. Here's what she wrote in response - all in her own words:

HUNGER GAMES PARANOIA

By Teagan

I believe that The Hunger Games should not be banned from book stores and
libraries. The main character, Katniss, is trying to protect her family from
starvation, and ends up saving her sister from being thrown into the arena.

Parents can tell their children what not to read, by not letting the book into
their home, but taking it from libraries and book stores is like having jurisdiction
over what other peoples’ children can and cannot read.

The whole series is
about family, teamwork, and love. It is an inspirational, message to young
readers that they can accomplish the greatest tasks. The Hunger Games is a great, well written book that is an
experience that readers should not be deprived of.

Today my daughter and I are re-reading our favorite parts of the trilogy in honor of Banned Book Week. What are you reading?

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Welcome!

I'm an author, editor, magazine columnist, wife, and mother to three kids and two big dogs... not necessarily in that same order each day. I try to write every day and read a book a week, but life often gets in the way.

I write romance and adventure for young adults and the young at heart, and living next to the Atlantic Ocean influences everything I write...